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Caspar Trepp Papers

Call Number

MS 670.25

Date

1858-1863, inclusive

Creator

Extent

0.4 Linear feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

The materials are in English, with a few documents in Romansh and one in Latin.

Abstract

This collection consists of the correspondence and other documents of Caspar Trepp, Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Sharpshooters regiment (also known as Berdan's Sharpshooters). Materials include correspondence, returns of supplies and ordnance stores, receipts, dispatches, muster rolls, reports on target practice, and maps showing the regiment's positions in battle. Also included are papers related to court-martial proceedings brought against Trepp by Colonel Berdan. Portions of this collection relating to the Civil War have been digitized and are available to on-site researchers and to users affiliated with subscribing institutions via EBSCOhost.

Biographical note

Swiss-born Caspar Trepp (1829-1863) served in the Foreign Legion before emigrating to the United States. He first appears in the New York City directory as a "carpenter" in 1859 (according to his obituary, he was a professional architect). In 1861, he joined the Union Army, serving first as Captain, and later Lieutenant Colonel, of Company A, 1st US Sharpshooters (also known as Berdan's Sharpshooters).

The US Sharpshooters were a celebrated unit of expert marksmem recruited from various states. The unit was officially organized by Hiram Berdan, a talented inventor and one of the country's top marksmen. But some scholars have suggested that it was Trepp who originally proposed the idea of a rifle regiment, while Berdan supplied the clout and influence necessary to win political approval. Support for this idea is found in the writings of Trepp's fellow Swiss sharpshooters, and in the European-style tactics and camouflage uniforms of the unit.

Whatever its origin, there was growing friction between the two men which culminated in Colonel Berdan filing charges of cowardice against Trepp in 1863. Aside from his own testimony, however, Berdan could produce no evidence to support the charges against Trepp, who was acquitted of all charges at his court-martial. Trepp then filed counter-charges against Berdan, who had been separately charged with cowardice by another officer. Although Berdan was likewise acquitted, the consensus seems to be that there was some foundation for the charges against him.

Trepp was killed by a Confederate sniper's bullet at the Battle of Mine Run (Virginia) on November 30, 1863. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Arrangement

The folders are arranged by material type, and then chronologically where possible.

Scope and Contents

The Caspar Trepp Papers consist of correspondence and other documents relating to his work as Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Sharpshooters Regiment.

Two folders of correspondence include a report of the part taken by a Sharpshooter regiment at the Battle of Chancellorsville, reports on target practice, letters from the Swiss Consul in Washington (some written in Romansh) and other letters dealing with regimental operations. There are also a number of letters concerning Trepp's court-martial and feud with Colonel Berdan. A few personal letters are also included.

Additional folders contain official papers and notes relating to the court-martial proceedings against Trepp and Berdan; field maps showing the regiment's positions in battle; accounts of ordnance and ordnance stores; muster rolls and clothing returns; regimental directives and military orders; and other miscellaneous documents including a Southern propoganda envelope retrieved during battle and an 1848 certificate issued to Trepp in German. Portions of this collection relating to the Civil War have been digitized and are available to on-site researchers and to users affiliated with subscribing institutions via EBSCOhost.

Access Restrictions

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Location of Materials

Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Provenance

Gift of Christine S. Trepp, 1932.

Sources

Farey, Pat (2008). Sniping, an illustrated history. Grand Rapids, MI: Zenith Press.
Early, Gerald L (2009). The Second United States Sharpshooters in the Civil War: a history and roster. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.
Col. Berdan's Sharp-Shooters (1861, August 7). New York Times.
Obituary, Lieut.-Col. Trepp (1863, December 13). New York Times.

Collection processed by

Susan Kriete. Machine readable finding aid created by Susan Kriete.

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:47:14 -0400.
Language: Description is in English

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024